The Biden administration has blacklisted more than two dozen Chinese entities, including Zhipu AI, a prominent developer of large language models, and Sophgo, a company implicated in using Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) chips for Huawei’s AI processors. This move is part of the U.S.’s ongoing efforts to curb China’s access to advanced technology, particularly in the fields of artificial intelligence (AI) and military applications.
The U.S. Commerce Department added 25 Chinese companies, along with two Singapore-based companies, to its Entity List, effectively restricting their access to U.S. goods and technology without special licenses, which are typically denied. Zhipu AI, backed by major investors like Alibaba and Tencent, was blacklisted for its involvement in advancing China’s military AI capabilities. Sophgo, which supplied a chip found in Huawei’s Ascend 910B AI system, also came under scrutiny for its role in supporting Huawei’s AI ambitions, a company already restricted since 2019.
In response, Zhipu AI denied the allegations, claiming the decision lacked factual basis and wouldn’t significantly impact its operations. Similarly, Sophgo, an affiliate of Bitmain, a leading bitcoin mining equipment supplier, also rejected claims of any direct ties with Huawei.
The U.S. also implemented stricter rules for the export of semiconductors, specifically those used in AI applications, particularly targeting advanced chips at or below 14 or 16 nanometer nodes. The new regulations aim to prevent these chips from being used in military technologies or high-tech surveillance systems, further tightening restrictions on Chinese companies like Changxin Memory Technologies, a major DRAM producer.
The expanded controls also hold chipmakers accountable for ensuring that their products do not end up in the hands of restricted entities, including companies potentially linked to Huawei’s operations.
These moves are part of broader efforts by the U.S. to limit China’s access to critical technology, especially in areas like AI and advanced military systems, and to curtail the risk of sensitive technologies being diverted to entities like Huawei.
